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Commercial Driver Handbook ( PDF ) - California Department of ...

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• You will have to keep passing other vehicles.<br />

This increases the chance <strong>of</strong> a collision.<br />

• It is more tiring. Fatigue increases the chance<br />

<strong>of</strong> a collision.<br />

Overtaking or following another vehicle. You<br />

may not overtake and pass another vehicle which<br />

is moving at less than 20 mph on a grade (outside<br />

a business or residential district) unless you can<br />

pass that vehicle at least 10 mph faster than it is<br />

travelling and the pass can be completed within<br />

one quarter mile. (CVC §21758).<br />

You must not follow the vehicles listed below<br />

any closer than 300 feet. The rule does not apply<br />

during overtaking and passing, when there are two<br />

or more lanes for traffic in each direction, or in<br />

a business or residential district (CVC §21704).<br />

• A motor truck or truck tractor having three or<br />

more axles.<br />

• Any motor truck or truck tractor towing any<br />

other vehicle.<br />

• A passenger vehicle or bus towing any other<br />

vehicle.<br />

• A school bus transporting any school pupil.<br />

• A farm labor vehicle when transporting<br />

passengers.<br />

• A vehicle transporting explosives.<br />

• A trailer bus.<br />

When large vehicles are being driven in caravan<br />

on the open highway, at least 100 feet must be left<br />

between them to allow other vehicles to overtake<br />

and pass them (CVC §21705).<br />

speed on doWngrades<br />

Your vehicle’s speed will increase on down grades<br />

because <strong>of</strong> gravity. Your most important objective<br />

is to select and maintain a speed that is not too<br />

fast for the:<br />

• Total weight <strong>of</strong> the vehicle and cargo.<br />

• Length and steepness <strong>of</strong> the grade.<br />

• Road conditions and weather.<br />

If a speed limit is posted, or there is a sign indicating<br />

a maximum safe speed, never exceed the posted<br />

speed. Also look for and heed warning signs<br />

indicating the length and steepness <strong>of</strong> the grade.<br />

- 38 -<br />

You must use the braking effect <strong>of</strong> the engine as<br />

the principal way <strong>of</strong> controlling your speed on<br />

downgrades. The braking effect <strong>of</strong> the engine is<br />

greatest when it is near the governed rpms and the<br />

transmission is in the lower gears. Save your brakes<br />

so you will be able to slow or stop as required by<br />

road and traffic conditions.<br />

Slow the vehicle and shift your transmission to a<br />

low gear before starting down the grade and use<br />

the proper braking techniques.<br />

More information on going down steep hills safely<br />

is on page 45 in the section on “Mountain Driving.”<br />

roadWay Work zones<br />

Speeding traffic is the number one cause <strong>of</strong> injury<br />

and death in roadway work zones. Observe the<br />

posted speed limits at all times when approaching<br />

and driving through a work zone. The speed<br />

limit may be reduced in a work zone. Watch your<br />

speedometer, and don’t allow your speed to creep<br />

up as you drive through long sections <strong>of</strong> road<br />

construction. Decrease your speed for adverse<br />

weather or road conditions. Decrease your speed<br />

even further when a worker is close to the roadway.<br />

mAnAgIng SPAce<br />

A safe driver keeps space all around the vehicle.<br />

When things go wrong, space gives you time to<br />

think and to take action.<br />

To have space available when something goes<br />

wrong, you need to manage space. While this is<br />

true for all drivers, it is very important for large<br />

vehicles. They take up more space and they require<br />

more space for stopping and turning.<br />

spaCe ahead<br />

Of all the space around your vehicle, it is the area<br />

ahead <strong>of</strong> the vehicle–the space you are driving<br />

into–that is the most important.<br />

The need for space ahead. You need space ahead<br />

in case you must suddenly stop. According to<br />

collision reports, the vehicle that trucks and buses<br />

most <strong>of</strong>ten run into is the one in front <strong>of</strong> them. The<br />

most frequent cause <strong>of</strong> collisions is following too<br />

closely. Remember, if the vehicle ahead <strong>of</strong> you is

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